Sounds like a smokin’ deal.
Then we gotta go catch some fish for you to practice on.
TD:
I am with you on the speed, with the exception of two species, yellow perch and walleye (in the perch family).
I’ve found that I can do those two as fast, if not faster, (with less meat loss) with a sharp, long bladed Rapala. The bones on these are so soft that you can zip thru them really quick and you can flex the knife (can’t do with electric) right along the back to max out yield.
For all of the bass varieties, and all others, the electric is BY FAR the best way to go.
What say you?
As with all things fishing, it is a subjective thing. We tend to develop our own preferences, for our own reasons.
But, I would challenge you to a race. Put 20 perch in front of each of us, with the same total live weight. Then, see who finishes first and who comes up with the most net weight of skinless boneless fillets.
Just a warning. I have been there done that before. Never lost. Not even close. But I have never been challenged by someone REALLY good with a regular fillet knife. I know that I can whip them out pretty fast too, but I prefer the electric.
I do agree that perch and small walleyes are some of the easier fish to fillet, but they ARE easier with the electric. IMHO
Wahoooo! We’re on!
I know we can find mutual ground (liquid) at either Starvation or Yuba.
Two catches, sort by size and go!
You my friend have caught a whole lotta perch in your day. And I must say that if anyone could whip those critters with an electric it would be you. The only one I know who has caught that many… might be…me !
If I recall, you’re retired and I still have to work before fishing (exception this Thurs - Sun weekend at Wahweap), but after that game on!
I might have to even use your own jigs to help catch the walleye, if you want to try Starvation we could mix it up.
Ok - Letts-fish!
**With Starvation starting out with such high water this year, the fishing should be great. As soon as the fish get active we will have to gang up on them…both for fishing and filleting. **
You let me know what your schedule is and we will watch the weather together and work out details.
**Oh, and I catch plenty of walleyes on my OWN jigs, thank you kindly. Seldom catch fewer than 5 on an average trip. **
I may be old, but never too old to learn from others. And, always up for making new fishin’ buddies.
Come on June.
Ok Tubedude, you have raised a few questions…
I converted to “filleting” my fish several years ago instead
of “gutting” them. I had the worse teacher anyone could ever have; myself.
However, mine turn OK and I am usually happy with the results. I do not use an electric knife but, I am convinced to now get one.
Here is my question:
Have you ever tried to cut from the top of the back down, without cutting the ribcage. In other words, I make one cut directly from the head to the tail, down until I hit the backbone. Then I cut from the sides of the ribcage, avoiding the bones ribcage.
This is done as step 2, after I remove the head. I am going to try your method (cutting perpendicular) through
the ribcage/bones.
Like I said, I was self taught… I am sure I am slower than most..
I am familiar with the system you describe. It is fairly common among folks who prefer the plain blade fillet knife. And it does produce fairly efficient fillets.
However, once you have witnessed the proper technique for “slabbing” with a good electric, you will realize that it is both faster and more efficient. It is possible to avoid cutting the ribs, and to cut around them with the electric, but it requires more time and motion to do so.
If one only has a few perch and wants to be sure to salvage every morsel of edible flesh, then using a regular fillet knife and carefully controlled cuts might be the way to go. But, the main reason I use the electric is that I usually bring home a pretty good batch of perch, bluegills or white bass and I just do not have the time or patience to “whittle” on them. I fire up the electric and zip the fillets off in less time than it usually takes to only do a few fish with a regular knife. And, if I end up with several pounds of skinless boneless fillets, I am not going to lay awake at night worrying about a half ounce here or there that I left behind in the process. I’m not wasteful but I am not “anal” about it either. As a point of fact, I personally believe that I actually leave less edible fish flesh behind with the electric, even when I blitz them.
In the “olden days”, I used to put on seminars at the Anglers Inns stores…demonstrating filleting and cooking techniques for the warm water species. That was in the days when most Utah anglers were strictly troutaholics and perch were “trash fish”.
We have had BFT get togethers on a lot of other subjects. Maybe we can set up a filleting demo some time, over at the cleaning station at Willow Park Pond…with everybody bringing a few fish from their weekend’s success. Or, we can have another Catfish Fest at Lincoln Beach. I filleted a lot of kitties down there. But, for perch, Starvation or Yuba would be the best potential…although they are futher away. And you are further yet.
**I definately am willing to become converted to this method. I spend way too much time “whittling” on the **fish. This is one of the reasons I usually avoid perch.
I would definately be willing to travel for a lesson sometime. Whenever I believe I know it all, I usually soon find out how little I do know…
You know, I’ll bet if you spent more time with that GOB (good ol’ boy) he would probably let you in on the secrets of where to catch those big blue flathead cats in Utah Lake…and how to fillet them too.
Now that’s funny right there! Next time I bump into him. I think I will ask him about them. He knows lots of secret spots on that lake. Even my secret spots.. (According to him 
. Which turns out, just like the fillet knife thing, he had no idea where I was talking about.)
I’ve got a quarter on TubeDude! Any takers?
TD,
Where in Cali did you work on the boats? Man that is the only thing I miss about living California is the Ocean fishing. Drop it in and see what comes up and bites it.
i have used this method for quite a few years and its great..but i have reccently added i more time saver to it..i bought a really good electric fish scaller..cost a little bit but its worth it..its a 25 gallon drum with holes punched in it and an electric motter that turns it..you put in 50 fish and watter turn it on ..15 minutes latter there all scalled..then you fillet them and leave the skin on..works great for bluegills..
TD,
Where in Cali did you work on the boats? Man that is the only thing I miss about living California is the Ocean fishing. Drop it in and see what comes up and bites it.
Davey’s Locker and Art’s Landing…in Newport. Then when I lived in Santa Barbara I worked a couple of boats there…mostly as a hobby on days off…and to get some deadheading privileges.
Also worked at pulling long lines for rock cod and some trammel nets for halibut…before outlawed. Also did some swordfish sticking.
I wake up whimpering sometimes when I think back on the ocean fishing I once enjoyed. But, with all of the new regulations imposed on some of the fishing grounds it is a completely different fishery in California. Ahhh, the good old days.
I was born and raised in So Cal. You and I have probably been on a cattle boat or two together. It would be a blast to put together a BFT weekend trip.
Moooooo!
I’d rather make a run to the Sea of Cortez. About the same drive and better fishing.
Won’t it be hot trying to fish from our totally enclosed protective bio-suits?
So far, no incidence of the flu in remote areas of Mexico. Where I go it is a long drive on 4 X 4 roads.
Or, were you referring to California? Probably a worse situation there.
One taker here.
Confidence is a strong fishing trait!
Today the coupon started so I got on the Cabela web site to order it and saw it was on sale by itself for $15.00’s ye-haw, add to card, and of course back ordered 6-10 weeks. Why do people put products in their flyers that they don’t have in stock?
When you head to SoC, do you go to the Baja side or Puerto Penasco? Used to work with a fella in Cali who spent all of his vacation time in PP and used to slay them on a regular basis.